Okoh warns against delay of ministers’ salary

By Olayinka Latona

PRIMATE of Church of Nigeria, (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh has issued a directive to all Anglican diocesan bishops across the country to ensure the prompt payment of salaries of their clergymen.

Flagging off a campaign against delay in payment of ministers’ salaries during the consecration service of Very Rev. Simon Borokini, Ven. Geoffery Okoroafor and Ven. James Odedeji as bishops at the Cathedral of St. Jude, Ebute Metta, Lagos, Okoh noted that some dioceses are heavily indebted to their clergy-men, a situation he said was unacceptable.

The primate argued that it is against the Anglican tradition to owe clergymen as their pay-ment is of utmost priority in the church while other things are secondary.

In his words: “It has been made known that some parish-ioners owe their clergmen salaries. It is a pity that many of our clergmen are not pro-perly taken care of. We cannot continue like this. From now it is the responsibility of the parishioners to ensure that their clergmen are paid re-gularly.”

Continuing, he said: “This culture of owing must not continue. The clergmen are there to serve us hence we should not bring tears and sorrows to their homes”.

Primate Okoh also charged Anglican members to support their individual dioceses, adding that it is their various supports that will move the church forward.

Primate Okoh also the occasion to commend the decision of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI who resigned due to old age.

“For me, it is a good example. If you know that you can no longer cope with the demands of your office either as a Pope or archbishop it is better for you to give chance so that those other people who can do it can come in and do the work effectively. I commend him for doing that”, he said.